Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1902 Michael's Suspicion

The night passed by painfully.

After Genevieve and Michael had escaped from the ghouls, they were beset by monsters.

Mostly they fended off several packs of wolves. Though it was more them escaping the beasts' pursuit than actually engaging with them.

Then there were the occasional ghouls and zombies that walked the land. The former were more difficult to deal with as they were stronger and faster than regular zombies. These foul creatures had some cunning to them as well, making fighting them tricky.

The pair did find a few shelters — caves nestled within small hills. However, they were unable to make full use of them.

There were several reasons, but the main ones were that they couldn't carve runic formations like Adam could, and they no longer had the mysterious talisman.

In the chaos that followed the ghouls' arrival, none of them had thought to take away the one thing that could actually offer even a modicum of safety in these perilous lands.

And yet, they braved the dangers of the night and lived to see the sun rise.

Sitting upon a thick branch, the two stared at the ground with a blank look on their face. There were marks of battle around the tree, and about a dozen wolf corpses sprawled around.

To say they looked haggard would be an understatement.

Michael's leather armour was torn in several places. Multiple wounds littered his arms and neck, and a deep claw mark ran across his right eye. If there was any consolation, the eye itself was unharmed, and his vision remained intact.

It was obvious he had borne the brunt of the attacks. He was a Paladin, after all, and one who excelled in close-quarter combat. Even so, fighting through the night had taken a toll on him. His chest heaved up and down as he took long, ragged breaths.

Genevieve looked harmless in comparison. Though her face had paled from exhaustion and mana depletion. Somehow, she managed to keep herself awake, for they were not truly out of danger.

Daytime was comparatively safer than nighttime, but it was filled with dangers nevertheless.

As the first rays of the morning sun illuminated the land, Michael slowly turned toward her and asked in a hushed voice, "How do you fare?"

Genevieve silently nodded, blankly staring at the beast corpses on the ground.

Michael couldn't help but sigh. Though the woman didn't have any physical injuries to show, he knew that she had been instrumental in the battle throughout the night. If not for her constant support in defending and hiding from monsters, it would have been far more difficult to survive.

Genevieve silently nodded, blankly staring at the beast corpses on the ground.

Michael couldn't help but sigh. Though the woman didn't have any physical injuries to show, he knew that she had been instrumental in the battle throughout the night. If not for her constant support in defending and hiding from monsters, it would have been far more difficult to survive.

"How much mana do you have?" he asked.

Genvieve replied after a long moment of deliberation, "Just… give me a few minutes."

"Alright," Michael whispered.

He knew she had taken the deaths of their team members very seriously. And the fact that Adam's status was unknown further weighed down on her.

After all, if it wasn't for Adam, they wouldn't have been able to escape.

That much Michael was certain of. He knew how strong ghouls were. Those foul undead creatures were ridiculously resilient. It was difficult to take them down since they could regenerate most fatal injuries.

Their party would have taken care of the two ghouls had they been prepared. However, due to several factors, it was improbable for them to face the ghouls directly. Even if they did battle the ghouls, the casualties on their side would be immense.

He couldn't help but sigh, thinking about the events of last night.

That stupid bastard, he cursed inwardly, thinking of Darren.

How could he invite strangers into our hideout so carelessly?

Especially given that these strangers turned out to be flesh-eating monsters!

He retrieved the waterskin and took a small gulp. Then he turned his head northeast, his eyes flickering with hope.

They had been traveling in the direction of that city for the entire night. Adam had mentioned it would take around a week to reach that place. Though now, it would probably take a lot more since they didn't have the talisman.

I wonder if he's all right, he thought to himself with a bitter smile.

The chances weren't looking that promising for Adam. After all, there had been a few more ghouls hiding in the vicinity. Most likely, they had come along with Narion to feast on the adventurers.

Michael and Genevieve had managed to slay one of them with great difficulty. Thanks to the latter's artifact, they were able to fool the rest of the ghouls' senses and come out relatively unharmed.

If Adam fought them all on his own…

He knew Adam was strong, but he didn't think he was strong enough to defeat around half a dozen ghouls and make it out unscathed. Even if Adam somehow did manage to kill the ghouls, more monsters would be drawn by the commotion.

Michael simply didn't see a way out for him.

She understands this too, he thought, finally glancing toward Genevieve.

No wonder she's so saddened.

"We need to leave before more beasts arrive," he said in a grim voice. "A lot more monsters will be drawn here now. We've left a bloody trail behind."

He saw her take a deep breath, then nod solemnly.

"Let's go," she said as she weakly rose to her feet.

We need to find a safe hideout soon, Michael thought to himself grimly.

I don't know how long more she can—

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he turned toward a certain direction. Howls of beasts, wails of monsters, and the sound of destruction echoed from there. The commotion lasted only a few moments, but it had come from alarmingly close by.

Michael's heart was gripped by terror.

Damn it! We spent too much time resting here!

His head snapped toward Genevieve and whispered sharply, "Leave! Now!"

Genevieve's expression was aghast. They'd been fighting and fleeing the entire night. Even now, they didn't get a few minutes to stop and catch their breath. She had only managed to gather a very small amount of mana, which would soon be expended in the battle to come.

Just how long more could she go on like this?

Without mana, a Magus naturally lost most, if not all, of their abilities.

Just when they were about to vault off the branch, a faint gust of wind blew. In the next second, a voice called out to them from near the voice of the tree.

It was a familiar voice.

"There you are."

Genevieve's figure trembled when she heard that voice. For a brief moment, she couldn't help but wonder if she was hallucinating from physical and mana exhaustion.

She simply stood there on the branch and gaped at the newcomer for two whole seconds.

"…Adam?" she muttered at last, her voice tinged with disbelief and suspicion.

The raven-haired youth made a mock sad face and said, "I'd thought you'd be happier to see me."

"Adam, is that really you?!" Michael blurted out.

"Obviously," said Adam, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

He then retrieved an item from his pocket and displayed it to the two with a cheeky smile.

"Shall we go find a place to rest then?"

When Genevieve and Michael saw the item hanging from Adam's fingers, their eyes slowly widened.

The talisman!

Genevieve was ecstatic. She was about to hastily climb down the tree. She could have cast a spell to slow her descent from a jump, but chose wisely to save whatever mana she had just gathered.

"Stop!" Michael's sharp voice made her freeze.

The auburn-haired young woman turned to him with a frown, but seeing the plain suspicion on his face, she swallowed her words.

Michael's hand subconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword as he warily scrutinized Adam. And given that the surroundings had grown eerily quiet, the suspicion in his heart intensified.

"Prove it," he said. "Prove you are who you say you are!"

Adam sighed helplessly. "Cautious as ever. Can't say I blame you."

The next moment, a gray light flashed, and an adorable little cat appeared out of nowhere. He lay on Adam's head and declared haughtily:

"I, Valerian Constantine, declare that my brother is my brother. My words are worth gold, so… uhm… trust me?"

Michael's suspicion melted away like snowflakes under the summer sun. With a wild laugh, he jumped from the tree and embraced Adam in a bear hug.

"You madman! I'm so glad you're alive!"

Adam smiled as he patted the young man's back. His gaze shifted to Genevieve, who had just climbed down the tree, and he shot her a happy smile. He really was glad to see she was alive.

Valerian leaped from his head and dove into Genevieve's embrace. He tenderly rubbed his furry cheek against hers. He had taken quite a liking to her in the little time they'd spent.

Genevieve warmly welcomed the little fellow.

Then she turned toward Adam, her smile gradually fading away. She hesitated for a few moments before asking in a quiet voice, "What about the others?"

Adam's smile widened, though it never quite reached his eyes.

"Let's find a place to rest first."

Reunited, at last, the four of them made their way deeper into the woods.